This is that which standeth written, Deut. v. 28, “And Tetragrammaton hath heard the voice of your words.” Again, Num. xi. 1, “And Tetragrammaton heard, and His wrath was kindled.”
Hence every prayer and petition which a man poureth forth before God the Most Holy One—blessed be He!—requireth this, that he pronounce the words with his lips.
For if he pronounce them not, his prayer is no prayer, and his petition is no petition.
But as far as the words go forth, they cleave the air asunder, and ascend, and fly on, and from them is the voice made; and that which receiveth the one receiveth also the other, and beareth it into the Holy Place in the head of the King (otherwise, beneath Kether, the Crown).
From the three cavities (of the brain of Microprosopus) distilleth a certain distillation, and it is called the Brook. As it is said in 1 Kings xvii. 3, “The brook Kherith,” as it were an excavation or channel of the ears.
And the voice entereth into that curved passage, and remaineth in that brook of that distillation.
And then is it therein detained, and examined, whether it be good or whether it be evil. This is the same which is said, Job xxxiv. 3, “Because the ear examineth the words.”
For what cause doth the ear examine the words? Because the voice is detained in that brook distilling into the curved passage of the ears, and doth not swiftly enter into the body, and thereunto is an examination instituted between the good and the evil.
“As the palate tasteth meat.” Wherefore can the palate taste meat? Because in the same manner it causeth it to delay, and (the meat) doth not enter so rapidly into the body. And hence (the palate) proveth and tasteth it (to discern) whether it be sweet and pleasant.
From this opening of the ears depend other openings, (namely) the opening of the eye, the opening of the mouth, the opening of the nose.